Window awning construction



@cit 9, 1934. E. F. BELL wINDow AwNING CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec.24, 1931 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNTED STATES WINDOW' AWNING CONSTRUCTIONAppiication December 24, 1931, Serial No. 582,903 Renewed March 14, 193413 Claims.

This invention relates to Window awning constructions and has for one ofits objects to producebrace means for pivoted awning arms, which willprevent vibration of the awning through the action of the wind liftingthe front pole, and

which will automatically collapse when the awning bracket has been movedto a predetermined point to permit the arms to pivot or fold when it isdesired to collapse the awning.

A further object of the invention is to produce a construction of thecharacter set forth which may be used with automatic window awnings ofthe visor type, in which means is provided to prevent downward fallingof the awning structure upon the folding movement of the visor portionthereof, and in which the visor may be adjustably positioned at anypoint throughout the height oi the window opening.

Another object is to provide a construction 20 which is positivelylocked in open position and which no amount of Wind or vibration of anykind imparted to the awning can accidentally trip the awning and causeits resultant collapse, this result being accomplished by the provisionof a positive lock making it impossible to manually or accidentally tripthe awning, until it has been moved along its guides to a predeterminedtripping point.

With the general objects named in View, and others as will hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features ofconstruction and organization of parts as hereinaiter described andclaimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is tobe had tc the accompanying` drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an automatic window awning of theinvention with the fabric partially broken away to illustrate partsotherwise hidden.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the awning as shown in Figure 1,illustrating in full lines the position of the awning when in preferredposition with a tension on the awning fabric to remove all looseness outof the connections, and in dotted lines the maximum possibleopen-movement in the proportions of the parts illustrated, when theawning fabric is entirely slacked away and is not imposing any tensionon the awning structure.

Figure 3 is a view in full lines of the awning in collapsed position,and in dotted lines of the position of the visor at the top of thewindow opening just prior to closing or just after opening movement.

Figure 4 is an enlarged disassembled View of the parts of the awningoperating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of an operating spring assembly formingpart of the structure.

Figures 6 and '7 are views of modifications of detail parts of theawning mechanism.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identifycorresponding parts in all of the gures, l indicates the frame of awindow opening, and secured at convenient points on opposite sides ofthe opening are a pair of upright guides 2, the lower ends of saidguides providing stop portions 3, and their upper ends having tripportions 4, or any desired irregularity whereby certain brace lockingmembers hereinafter identified may move out cf the plane of the guides,for example, the guide tripping portions may be as shown at 5 in Figure6, it being understood that the essence of this invention lies in theprovision of a positive locking member normally in contact with apredetermined suriace, and when moved out of contact with such surfaceor out of a predetermined plane, releasing the lawning arm for pivotalmovement, and that many variations from the structure illustrated may bereadily produced embodying the locking principle here involved, asdistinguished from devices of the prior art usually tripped by contactwith a projection as the awning is moved upwardly on its guides, itbeing apparent that such a trip Amay sometimes be operated by handwithout moving the awning structure up to proper tripping position, orthat on windy, gusty days, there is a possibility that such trips oi theprior art may be released by vibration.

Mounted for sliding movement along said guides are a pair of brackets 6having upper and lower bosses 7 slidingly receiving the guides 2, and,where the structure is of the automatic adjustable visor type, the upperbosses '7 are connected by a visor bar 8 spanning the window opening,while a pair of awning arms 9 are pivotally secured to the lower bosses'7. The outer ends of the arms 9 are connected by an awning pole l), itbeing thus noted that the brackets 6 and their cross bar 8 respectivelyform an inverted U-frame sliding on the guide 2, while the awning arms 9and their front or awning pole l0 form a second awning frame ofgenerally U-shape mounted for pivotal movement, so that its upper endwhen in collapsed or folded position will preferably lie just below theplane of the visor bar 8, the parts being so proportioned that theawning frame will preferably, when folded, slightly incline outwardlyfrom the vertical so that its gravitative tendency is always to swingdown to open position. i

Mounted above the window opening and journaled in bearings 11 carried bythe building front, is an awning fabric roller 12 on which a fabric 13is rolled, the free end of the fabric extending down under the visor bar8 and being connected at its end to the awning pole 10.

With the structure as thus far described, it will be apparent that whenit is in open position there is nothing to prevent unlimited vibrationof the awning pole by the wind, and that it will be impossible toposition the awning at any desired point in the height of the windowopening as the awning frame would immediately commence to collapse upona rolling up of the fabric. To brace and positively lock the awningframe against collapse by vibration or even manual manipulation, shortof rolling up the awning structure to a predetermined point, thefollowing apparatus embodying the principle of operation heretoforementioned, is employed:

The apparatus to be described, is preferably employed in duplicate atopposite sides of the window, but for convenience will be described inthe singular as the structure may work efficiently with locking means atone side only.

Pivotally secured adjacent the inner end of the awning arm 9 at anydesired distance from its pivotal mounting on the boss'7 of the visorframe, is a link brace or member 14, said brace extending upwardly andinwardly and being pivotally secured to the lower end of a second bracemember 15, which in normal position, with the awning open, is in slidingcontact at its rear side with the bracket 6. With this construction, itwill be evident that strain on the fabric tending to pivot or collapsethe awning frame will be transmitted to the brace members 14 and 15, thelatter tending to slide upwardly within the bracket 6.

To prevent collapse of the brace a dog or locking member 16 in the shapeof a bell-crank lever is pivotally mounted on the ends of the visor bar8, said dog having at its opposite ends a pair of abutments 17 and 18and being so proportioned that when the awning is open the abutment 17is firmly held within a locking recess 19 in the upper end of member 15,due to the fact that the recess 19 is preferably beveled and pressureagainst abutment 17 is resisted by direct contact of abutment 18 againstthe predetermined plane or surface, in this case, against the guide 2.With the construction described, it will be evident that there isabsolutely no chance of the awning collapsing, either through manualtripping or through vibration, as the abutment 17 cannot move out of thepath of travel of the brace member 15 as long as its companion abutment18 is in contact with the predetermined surface or plane, in this case,the guide 2.

When it is desired to collapse or fold the awning, the fabric is woundonto the roller 12 and the entire awning structure in open position isthus caused to slide upwardly on the guides 2, it being evident that aslong as tension is thus applied to the fabric, pressure is transmittedagainst the abutment 18 tending to move it inwardly of the plane of theguide 2, and consequently immediately the abutment attains the trippingportion 4 of the guide, it permits rocking of the bellcrank dog 16 toremove the abutment 17 out of the locking recess 19 in the member 15,the brace is thus permitted to break, and the awning frame is free toswing upwardly to collapsed position upon the continued further rollingof the fabric on the roller.

It will be noted that as the locking member 16 passes inwardly of theplane of the guide 2, it operates as a retainer to prevent downwardmovement of the brackets 6 on the guides 2, and the weight of the entireawning structure is thus transferred from the fabric to the dog or lock16 to hold the awning as the brace is broken and slack is provided inthe visor portion. With the trip portion 4 of the guide 2 inclineddownwardly and outwardly, it will be apparent that when the awningroller is permitted to revolve to unwind the fabric, the first movementis for the visor to be formed by downward gravitative movement of theawning frame and that when the visor is fully formed, the abutment 17will snap into the notch 19, the companion abutment 18 coming into theplaney of the guide 2, the weight of the structure being thustransmitted to the fabric. The operator may now unwind the desiredamount of fabric to place the visor at any desired position ofadjustment throughout the height of the window opening.

If the awning is permitted to gravitate downwardly until the bottom boss7 contacts with the portion 3 of the guide, presuming that there issuflicient fabric available for such extended movement, it will beapparent that the weight of the awning structure will be assumed by theportions 3 of the bracket 2, and that under continued release of morefabric from the roller, the awning frame would swing beyond thehorizontal until the brace 14 was stopped by contact with the pivot ofthe arm 9 on the lower boss 7 and might ultimately displace member 15.To avoid such operation of the parts it has been found desirable to outaway the rear side of the brace member 15 as shown, to form a stopshoulder 20, which through contact with the upper surface of a pair ofspaced ears 21 carried by bracket 6, prevents downward movement of themember 15 beyond such fixed range.

In Figure 7 a modified slide bracket 21a is illustrated, correspondingto the bracket 6, which is provided at its lower end with a horizontaleX- tension 2lb constituting a pocket to hold the awning arm 9 frommoving below the horizontal. I'his construction obviously also preventsbrace member 14 from assuming a pendant position and also obviates theuse of a stop shoulder 20 on the brace member 16. Of course the maximumopening movement of the awning frame may be limited by providing fabricof such length that there shall be insuficient fabric to let the awningframe move downwardly beyond locking position, as will be readilyunderstood.

To assist in the quick opening of the visor upon the release of thefabric from the roller, particularly if the awning frame in foldedlposition is very close to the vertical, it has been found desirable toprovide spring opening or resilient means to assist the gravtativetendency of the awning arm 9. As shown in this application, said springmeans comprises a spring guide rod 22 secured to the rear side of themember 15 and encircled by an expansion spring 23, the upper end of saidspring pressing against the underside of the ears 21, and its lower endagainst a shoulder 24 formed adjacent the lower end of the brace member15.

From the above description it will be evident that I have described aconstruction embodying all of the features set forth as desirable. It isto be understood that I reserve the right to make all vchanges withinthe spirit of the invention and without the ambit of the prior art.

I claim:-

1. The combination in an awning, of a guide having a trip portion, abracket mounted for reciprocation on said guide, an awning arm pivotedto said bracket, a brace between the arm and the bracket to resistpivotal movement of the arm, and means reciprocated with the bracketabutting and movable along the guide for releasing the brace when saidmeans reaches the trip portion of the guide to permit pivotal movementof the awning arm.

2. The combination in an awning, of a guide having a release portion, abracket mounted for reciprocation on said guide, an awning arm pivotedto the bracket, a brace between the awning arm and the bracket to resistpivotal movement of the arm, and means carried by the bracket andabutting and movable along the guide and its release portion forreleasing the brace when the bracket is moved along the guide asufficient distance to engage said means with the release portion of theguide.

3. The combination in an awning, of a guide having a release portion, abracket mounted for reciprocation on said guide, an awning arm pivotedto said bracket, resilient brace means between the bracket and arm, andmeans carried by the bracket and abutting and movable along the guidefor releasing the resilient brace for yielding movement when the bracketis moved along the guide a sufcient distance to engage said means withthe release portion of the guide to permit pivotal movement of theawning arm.

4. The combination in an awning, of a guide having a trip, a bracketmounted for reciprocation on said guide, an awning arm pivoted to saidbracket, and locking means abutting and movable along the guide toprevent pivotal movement of the arm and effecting release of said armfor pivotal movement when it engages the trip portion.

5. The combination of a guide having an offset trip portion, a bracketmounted for reciprocation on said guide, an awning arm pivoted to` saidbracket, a brace pivoted to the awning arm to resist pivotal movementthereof, and means abutting and movable along the guide for releasingthe brace when the bracket has been moved a suicient distance to permitsaid means to engage the trip portion to permit pivotal movement of thebrace on the arm and pivotal movement of the arm on the bracket.

6. An awning comprising a pair of guides having olset trip portions, arelatively inverted U-shaped visor frame mounted for reciprocation onsaid guide, awning arms pivoted to the ends of said visor frame, bracesbetween the awning arms and their respective visor arms, and meansabutting and movable along the guides for releasing the braces when thevisor frame has been moved a suicient distance to permit said means toengage the trip portions to permit pivotal movement of the braces on thearms and pivotal movement of the arms on the visor frame.

7. An awning comprising a pair of guides having offset trip portions, arelatively inverted U- shaped visor frame mounted for reciprocation onsaid guides, a U-shaped awning frame pivotally secured at its ends tothe visor frame, braces between the visor and awning frames and normallypreventing pivotal movement of the latter on the former, and meansabutting and movable along the guides for releasing the braces when thevisor frame has been moved a suicient distance to permit said means toengage the trip portions to permit pivotal movement of the awning frameon the visor frame.

8. A window awning comprising a slide frame, an awning frame pivoted tosaid slide frame and adapted to move from open to closed position, a.brace member mounted to reciprocate on said slide frame, a second bracepivoted at its opposite ends to the rst-named brace and to the awningframe, and means carried by the frame in the path of travel of saidreciprocatory brace to hold the same against movement but movable out ofsuch path of travel to permit the brace to move and the awning frame toswing to closed position.

9. An awning comprising a vertically movable frame, an awning framepivoted to said movable frame and adapted to move from open to closedposition, an abutment member having a trip portion, and means in contactwith the abutment member to hold the awning frame in open position andfor releasing the frame for pivotal movement when it engages the tripportion.

10. An awning comprising a vertically movable frame, an awning framepivoted to said iirstnamed frame, said awning frame when open beingunder constant tension impelling same to closed position, an abutmentmember having a trip portion, and a locking member carried by the frameand in sliding Contact with the abutment to hold the awning frame inopen position and for releasing the frame for pivotal movement when thelocking member engages the trip portion of the abutment.

ll. An awning comprising a vertically movable frame, an awning framepivoted to said firstnamed frame, said awning frame when open beingunder constant tension impelling same to closed position, an abutmentmember having a trip portion, and a locking member held in contact withthe abutment and operated by movement into the trip portion to permitpivotal movement of said frame to closed position; said locking memberholding the movable frame against downward movement upon the collapse ofthe awning frame.

12. In an awning, a vertically movable frame, a visor frame pivoted tosaid first named frame and movable between open and closed positions,said frame, when open, being normally under pressure tending to move itto closed position, an abutment surface, and locking means movable withthe vertically movable frame and contacting with and movable over theabutment surface forming a continuous plane for resisting closingmovement of the visor frame and movable out of the plane of the abutmentsurface to permit closing movement of the visor frame.

13. In an awning, a vertically movable awning frame, a visor framepivoted to the awning frame for movement between open and closedpositions, said visor frame, when open, being normally under pressuretending to move it to closed position, a xed abutment surface having anoffset trip portion, and locking means in sliding contact with theabutment surface and resisting the closing pressure of the visor frameby transmitting such pressure to said abutment surface, said lockingmeans being movable into the offset trip portion to permit closing ofthe visor frame.

EDWIN F. BELL.

